Jean II Rousseau (1606-1684) was the second in a watchmakers dynasty located in Geneva starting from 1630, when he fled France for Geneva, which became the cradle for prosecuted French Protestants. He gained fame making fine watches in refined cases, many of them decorated by the celebrated Huaud family, but also form watches, like his father, as well as complicated and astronomical watches. He had 12 children, 5 of his sons followed him into the business, the best known are Jacques, David -and André Rousseau. A well known apprentice of Jean Rousseau was Jean – François Lachis, who became a famed watchmaker in his own right.
David Rousseau (1641-1738) took over his father’s business in Geneva, which he gave further to his son Isaac Rousseau (1672 – 1747), father of the well known philosopher Jean – Jacques Rousseau (28.6.1712 – 2.7.1778).
André Rousseau was sent to Hamburg (Germany) for a goldsmith apprenticeship and continued to work there. Jacques Rousseau had to represent the family business in England, so he settled in London, the world’s centre of watchmaking at the time. He struggled badly to concurrence the local watchmakers such as Tompion, Windmills, Quare and others. The other two sons, Noël – and Louys Rousseau entered the business as well, but recordings are scarce about their work.
The biggest collection of over twenty watches with movements made by the Rousseau family can be admired in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
Antiquarian Horology 